News Archive - August 2012

Olympic footballer awaits UK work permit for move to Cardiff

An Olympic footballer is no doubt keeping his fingers crossed that he will be able to obtain a UK work permit before the 2012/13 season kicks off.

Kim Bo-Kyung, who is playing on the wing for South Korea's London 2012 Olympic squad, has been in discussions with Cardiff City during his time in the UK and both parties have agreed to sign a three-year contract.

The 22-year-old player has welcomed the deal but needs to receive confirmation from the UK Border Agency regarding his UK work permit before he can be sure of the place.

A statement on Cardiff City's website read: “Subject to the club completing necessary work permit processes, Kim will finalise his move after his London 2012 Olympic commitments with the South Korea national side. He will then link up with the Cardiff City squad in preparation for the start of the 2012/13 season.

"Cardiff City would like to place on record its gratitude to [Japanese club] Cerezo Osaka and Bo-Kyung's representatives for their professionalism and candour during negotiations."

If South Korea make it to the final of the football tournaments in the Olympic Games, Kim Bo-Kyung will be in the country until August 11th, which is just six days before Cardiff's clash with Huddersfield Town. Despite the proximity of the matches, the player will have to return to his home nation to make his UK work permit application.

Malky Mackay, Cardiff City's boss, explained: “Kim doesn’t automatically get a work permit, but we are dealing with that in the right way.

“He must be out of the country when an application goes in, which is why he will go home after the Olympics.”

The player himself told the club's website that Cardiff City was “always my preferred choice, despite interest from other clubs”. He added that the “tactics and vision” of the players there are what tempted him to the Welsh side.